Office Address:

145 Spruce St. suite #206
Ottawa, ONtario
Canada K1R 6P1
Tel: (613) 237-8056/ Fax: (613) 563-0017

CFOB Welcomes Opposition Party Calling for Economic Sanctions

Oct.-24, 2007

Ottawa

The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) welcomes the position of Canada’s official opposition party, calling for economic sanctions against Burmese military regime.

The statement issued today by the Liberal Party of Canada made such call while noting that granting Canadian Honorary Citizenship to Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is “a positive step.”

“We’re glad to see that the government has taken the first steps towards real action in Burma, but we must be absolutely clear, this is nothing but a first step, and needs to be quickly supported by actions that will put pressure on the military government to release [Daw] Suu Kyi,” said Mr. Bryon Wilfert, Liberal associate Foreign Affairs Critic.Canadian Parliament passed a motion proposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week to award Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with Honorary Canadian Citizenship.

However, Prime Minister Harper is yet to call any concrete action in response to the latest brutal crackdown in Burma.The Liberal Party’s statement said, “The Official Opposition has specifically called on the government to target economic sanctions against the Burmese military government, as well as freezing any assets currently held in Canada. This would expand on current regulations that restrict exports to Burma.”Other two opposition parties – Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party – also called a stronger measure against Burmese military junta.

The United States, European Union, Japan and Australia have already imposed punitive measures against the Burmese military junta since the crackdown unfolded in Burma.

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For more info, please contact Tin Maung Htoo (613) 297-6835

Canadian Friends of Burma
145 Spruce St. Suite #206
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6P1
Tel: 613-237-8056
Mobile: 613-297-6835
Fax: 613-563-0017